SRC confident of Pasuwa deal

THE Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC) has expressed optimism Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) and Warriors coach Kalisto Pasuwa will reach common ground over the protracted contract issue.

BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

Pasuwa has been working without a contract and Zifa now wants him to sign a contract, but efforts to consummate the relationship have been stalled, with the major sticking points being remuneration and the length of the contract.

It is understood Zifa have said they are able to pay the coach a salary of $3 000 while Pasuwa is holding out for $7 000, which he believes is a fair amount for a national team coach.

Negotiations have been going on between the coach’s manager Gibson Mahachi and Zifa board member (development) Edzai Kasinauyo over the contract issue, but with both parties failing to reach common ground, the football-controlling body sought the help of SRC to broker the deal.

SRC director-general Charles Nhemachena said negotiations were going on smoothly and was hopeful a common ground would be reached soon.

“Negotiations are still on-going, but we are optimistic the two parties will reach common ground,” Nhemachena said.

“Pasuwa has contributed well to the national team cause and the idea is to have a mutually beneficial relationship.

“The contract negotiations have nothing to do with the Chan [African Nations Championship] tournament. There are no strings attached and the coach will just go there with his mind focused on doing well at the tournament, while negotiations continue.
Under the circumstances, patience is a virtue and we are happy that both parties are cognisant of that.”

The majority of football followers believe Pasuwa should be given a contract consistent with a national team coach, as opposed to club level, given his success with the Warriors in the past year in which he has been working without a contract.

The Warriors gaffer led the team to a good start in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers, beating Malawi 2-1 in their backyard before playing out a 1-1 draw against Guinea in addition to leading the Under-23 team to the African Games qualifiers.